Every year, the Caribbean travel industry gathers in Sint Maarten for one of the region’s largest tourisms & hospitality events SMART, the St. Maarten / St. Martin Annual Regional Tradeshow. More than a business event, SMART brings together hotels, tourism boards, airlines, travel agents and industry partners to strengthen the relationships that keep Caribbean tourism thriving. Now in its 18th edition, SMART 2026 welcomed its largest attendance to date, creating an exciting atmosphere filled with new opportunities, meaningful conversations and regional collaboration. As always, Winair was proud to be part of the event. Hosted at the JW Marriott St. Maarten…
Author: The Publisher
MARIGOT, Saint Martin — Passenger traffic at Grand Case–L’Espérance Airport (SFG) remained largely stable in May 2026, while general aviation experienced significant growth, highlighting the airport’s expanding role as a regional aviation hub. At the same time, airport operator EDEIS has reinforced its commitment to environmental stewardship through a new partnership with the Saint-Martin Nature Reserve. According to EDEIS Saint-Martin’s latest monthly “FlashInfo” report, the airport handled 19,451 arriving passengers in May, virtually unchanged from the 19,379 recorded during the same month in 2025. Departing passenger traffic rose modestly by 3%, increasing from 19,100 to 19,269 passengers. For the year…
Great Bay— The Caribbean Shark Coalition has welcomed the designation of the Sint Maarten Insular Shelf as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA), a global benchmark identified by the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Shark Specialist Group. The recognition confirms that the waters off the island’s southern coast are among the discrete marine habitats worldwide that are critical to the survival of threatened sharks and rays. Covering roughly 72.76 square kilometres and reaching from the surface to 300 metres depth, the Sint Maarten Insular Shelf ISRA overlaps the existing Man of War Shoal Marine Protected Area. It qualified under three…
Opinion By Terrance Rey Over the past few days, readers have been treated to two thoughtful opinion pieces published on The Peoples’ Tribune examining the future of St. Maarten’s government-owned companies. The first article by Regina Labega argues that socio-economic obligations should be written directly into the Articles of Incorporation of government-owned companies. The second article by Franklin Richards contends that good governance ultimately depends less on what is written in legal documents and more on competent boards, professional management, transparency and accountability. After reading both articles carefully, my conclusion is simple. They are both right. But neither article fully…
PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten — Member of Parliament Francisco A. Lacroes has submitted questions to the Minister of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (VROMI) concerning sewage discharge, septic overflows, and wastewater issues affecting various neighborhoods throughout Sint Maarten. MP Lacroes made it known that numerous residents have raised concerns regarding septic water flowing onto public roads, drains, yards, and residential areas, creating potential public health and environmental concerns for years. “Residents have repeatedly expressed concerns about sewage and septic water entering public spaces. These situations not only affect the quality of life within our communities but may also pose…
By UN Resident Coordinator, Joanna Kazana On a clear morning in Aruba, the water off Eagle Beach glimmers in colors that no photograph fully captures — turquoise fading into cobalt, coral gardens visible from the surface, a living treasury built over millennia. In Curaçao’s Willemstad, a UNESCO World Heritage harbor reflects the resilience and cultural richness of a people who have made something extraordinary from very little land. In Sint Maarten, Pelican Hill offers breathtaking ocean views. You can sit there and take in the unparalleled beauty of sunrise and sunset or watch the bay where cruise ships and small…
~ When critical national infrastructure disappears behind a corporate curtain, the public has every right to ask questions ~ By Terrance Rey The debate surrounding N.V. GEBE’s fuel clause has exposed something much larger than the monthly electricity bills confronting households and businesses across St. Maarten. It has exposed a transparency problem. Not merely about electricity. Not merely about water. But about who ultimately controls one of the country’s most critical pieces of national infrastructure. Every cup of water that flows from our taps begins at Seven Seas Water, operating through Air-Fin Holding Sint Maarten N.V., the company responsible for producing virtually all…
One of only three International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni worldwide selected by the U.S. Mission—and the only Caribbean participant contributing to programming at the U.S. Pavilion. Great Bay, St. Maarten — Ife Badejo, Founder and CEO of Islandpreneur International and government-appointed AI Ambassador of Sint Maarten, has been selected by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva to participate in the AI for Good Global Summit, taking place July 7–10, 2026. She is one of only three International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni worldwide selected for this distinction and the only participant from the Caribbean contributing to…
By Terrance Rey For decades, Caribbean governments have proudly boasted about record-breaking tourist arrivals, expanding hotel developments, and billion-dollar tourism industries. But there is one uncomfortable question that we rarely ask ourselves: Who is actually getting rich? Jamaica deserves praise for finally confronting that question head on. Its Government has announced plans to repeal its outdated Tourism Act, dating back more than seventy years, and replace it with a modern Tourism Authority Act designed for today’s realities. The objective is not merely to modernize bureaucracy. It is to fundamentally change how tourism benefits the Jamaican people. That is exactly the kind of…
St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands | June 2026 The Statia Roots Festival Foundation and the St. Eustatius Basketball Federation proudly co-hosted The Alliance – Hoops & Heritage FIBA 3×3 Lite Quest 2026 on June 13–14, 2026, in St. Eustatius. Held as part of Statia Roots Festival 2026, under the theme “The Story Must Be Told,” the event successfully brought together sport, culture, heritage, and regional unity in a truly memorable Caribbean experience. Teams from across the Caribbean traveled to St. Eustatius to compete in the official FIBA 3×3 Lite Quest, with participating teams representing: Over two exciting days of competition, athletes…
